Lies and Secrets

Ann's entire existence is based on Adele's need to pretend to be something that she is not. Adele's deep-rooted fear that she is ordinary and low-class forces her to put on airs and act pretentious, even when it places the family in financial jeopardy. For Adele, the many lies and pretensions are simply acting, expressing a greater truth not bound by reality. They also permit her to avoid judging herself harshly, something she fears even more than being judged by others.

Everyone in the family has secrets often protected by lies. Lillian, Ann's beloved Gramma, conceals the fact that she got pregnant the first time she had sex as a naive 17-year-old girl.This forced Lillian to give up her dream of going to college. Ann's aunt Carol conceals the fact that she was married to a man who died tragically right after World War II...